The Patriots announced Monday that they waived outside linebacker Caleb Murphy.
In a potential corresponding move, NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported Monday that the Patriots plan to sign Chad Muma off the Colts’ practice squad.
Muma, 26, was selected in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft by the Jaguars out of Wyoming. He was claimed off waivers by the Colts in August, waived again in November and signed to Indianapolis’ practice squad.
The 6-foot-3, 239-pound defender has 99 tackles, 1.5 sacks, three tackles for loss, three QB hits and three pass breakups in 55 career games with seven starts. He played in five games this season, registering five tackles.
Murphy, who was claimed off waivers from the Chargers in October, recorded two tackles in five games this season with the Patriots.
Muma adds depth behind Patriots linebackers Robert Spillane, Christian Elliss, Jack Gibbens, Jahlani Tavai and Marte Mapu. The team also has Otis Reese on their practice squad and Darius Harris on practice squad injured reserve.
Spillane was active for Sunday’s loss to the Bills but didn’t play due to a foot injury. Head coach Mike Vrabel expalained Monday that Spillane could have been used in an emergency.
Spillane went through a pre-game warmup to test out his foot.
“I just think it was just to see what we can get, see whether he was going to be able to do it or if he was going to be in an emergency role,” Vrabel said. “There’s not a lot of depth there outside of him, and could have had a few guys up, but didn’t think that that was really going to make an impact on the game day roster. It felt like, whether it’s the sixth outside linebacker, the sixth receiver, the fourth tight end or whatever it may have been, I just didn’t feel like that that was going to make that much of a difference or a difference at all.”
The Patriots made QB Tommy DeVito, OT Marcus Bryant, OLB Bradyn Swinson, WR Efton Chism, TE CJ Dippre and DT Eric Gregory inactive over Spillane.
Waiving Murphy leaves the team with Harold Landry, K’Lavon Chaisson, Elijah Ponder, Anfernee Jennings and Swinson at outside linebacker.